Chapter 10

Ava

So, you guys are probably wondering if I’m dead or if I survived that horrible incident. Well, I’m glad to inform you that I’m fine.

It’s been a few days since Drew beat me up. Liam filled me in; apparently, after I passed out, Hunter took me to the nurse’s office, where my mother was called.

I guess it’s a bonus that she is a nurse.

Over the last few days, I have gotten to know Liam and Declan better. This started when I sat down at the table one day with a chicken burger and chips; I don’t care about calories when I’m starving.

After paying for my food and water, I walked hurriedly to my new table, taking a seat next to Hunter. He raised his eyebrow at my food, but I just shrugged and started eating. After finishing my chicken burger, I turned to my chips, popping them in my mouth. Then I noticed the guys staring at me.

“What?” My voice came out slightly muffled because I still had a few chips in there. Their stares were piercing, and I started to feel a bit self-conscious.

Liam spoke first. “Are you going to eat all that?”

~Is he serious?~

“Umm, yeah, is there something wrong with that?” Liam shook his head with a cheeky smile on his face.

“No, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just that when we see girls eat, it’s usually a salad or a piece of fruit. You’re eating more like a guy, more like a normal person even, and I like it.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. ~Do I really eat that much?~

Liam must have seen my face because he added hastily, “It’s really refreshing; it’s honestly not a bad thing.”

I smiled at him, feeling the tension ease as I turned back to my chips before they got too cold to eat.

Since then, I’ve shared a few jokes with them, although Declan still seems cold toward me. Liam is nice enough, and Lily finally seems comfortable hanging around them.

When I asked Liam where Hunter was during one of our lunch breaks, he surprised me by avoiding eye contact and saying he was busy “taking care of things.” This reminded me of the words Drew had said before slapping me, and I realized that I needed to find out what Hunter is hiding. ~How dangerous can he really be?~

Now that it’s the weekend again, I’m lounging in my room, wearing a warm, oversized sweater and holding a cup of steaming tea. I guess it would be treason if I didn’t.

My stomach still hurts, and the purple and yellow bruises look garish, but my cheek is a lot better—only slightly red, which can be covered with some concealer and powder. My hair’s tied in a messy bun because it hurts to raise my arms long enough to brush and style it.

To say my mum was angry about what had happened with Drew is an understatement. She was fuming when she came to the school, demanding that Drew would be expelled for such violence.

I smile as I remember her shouting at the head teacher before storming out. I swear I could see steam coming from her ears like a dragon—not that I would ever tell her that. Mum and I may not be able to hang out as much as I’d like, but she cares for me deeply, and was there when I needed her.

Mum thanked Hunter, Liam, and Declan for helping me out, but she did give them weird looks as I have only ever had one friend, Lily. She must have been very suspicious, especially since they are three very good-looking guys, but she didn’t comment.

My glasses fall down my nose, and I push them back with my middle finger. I gulp down my last drop of tea and put the cup down, making sure it sits on my ~Harry Potter~ coaster. Then I put on Arctic Monkeys so that I can dance around while completing my homework; I need to catch up after taking a day off from school, which never happens.

(Technically, I’m not behind since I have done all of next week’s work, as well as most of the following week’s. I just like to be prepared.)

After a while, I decide to pause my music and reward myself with a snack. Grabbing my empty tea mug and jumping down the stairs two at a time, I race into the kitchen and start back with snacks cradled in my arms like a precious baby. So, imagine my surprise when the doorbell rings.

I’m already halfway up the stairs and am in no mood to climb down again. I just want a lazy day. But I do anyway because it might be important.

Careful not to drop my snacks, I swing the door open and gasp. The food falls to the floor as I stare at the person in front of me.

Hunter.

He’s wearing his usual scowl, and his eyes are still cold, staring straight through me. Well, aren’t I lucky to have him as a “boyfriend?”

No, no I am not.

I don’t get the chance to invite him in before he barges past me and walks straight up to the stairs to my room. I stand there completely shocked and at a loss for words.

No “Hello, how are you?” Just completely ignores me and invites himself in!

Once again, I regret agreeing to this stupid deal. Why did I, anyway? I hate the boy, and the arrangement is not benefiting me; all it’s doing is making people hate me.

Hunter’s the one benefiting from this arrangement because he’s getting a tutor out of it. But I don’t see why he didn’t just ask me to tutor him—why go through all the trouble of fake dating?

He’s the one who proposed the idea, and a few days ago, he admitted that he wanted to get back at Drew and Jessica for his own reasons. But what could those reasons be? None of this makes any sense.

Realizing I’ve just been standing there, I slowly close the door and grab my snacks from the floor. I make my way upstairs slowly, listening out in case Hunter is doing something he shouldn’t be. I mean, you never know with him, do you? He’s completely random.

As I head to my room, I notice just how battered our house is. There are stains and scuff marks on the hardwood floors, walls, and doors from when I was younger and would spill drinks and run into things.

I suddenly remember our first house and smile at the memory of me drawing on the bathroom door and my dad chasing a giggling little Ava down the halls. But the memory becomes tinged with regret as I realize those marks are not in this house, that as battered as this house is, it doesn’t hold those same treasured memories.

I miss Dad a lot and have thought about him loads. Two years later, my heart still aches with longing.

Shaking away the unwanted feelings of sadness, I force a smile and walk into my room to find Hunter lounging on my bed. He has books spread all over my covers and is looking at them expectantly, like they are going to give him the answers. Without giving him a second glance, I walk to my desk and grab my notes.

I sit awkwardly next to Hunter and plonk all my notes down. Even though we are meant to be dating, I still don’t know that much about him.

“Hunter?”

He doesn’t say anything, just stares into oblivion, so I sigh and place my hand on his. He instantly flinches and shoves me away, to maintain a better distance. A thunderous look takes over his face.

If looks could kill, I would be six feet under right now.

Yet the storm doesn’t seem directed at me. Hunter seems like he’s struggling to control and contour his emotions, like he’s battling himself over whatever is troubling him. Still, his frightening scowl warns me to stay away. To leave this matter alone.

I don’t listen. I need to find answers somehow, so I push him.

“Hunter, what’s wrong?”

His gaze burns with so much ferocity it’s like they are boring into my very soul—or condemning me to hell.

“Just stay out of it, Ava. You don’t know anything. It’s none of your fucking business.” He doesn’t scream the words like I thought he would; each word is pronounced clearly and with so much hatred that I wish he ~had~ shouted.

Dumbfounded, I stare at him.

Hunter grabs his stuff. “I knew I shouldn’t have come here,” he mumbles to himself. Then he storms out of my room, slamming the door on his way out for good measure.

I sit there and listen to his car start up. His wheels screech on the tarmac as he drives off, away from my house.

Honestly, why can’t I keep my big mouth shut? Every time I open it, I cause an incident.

~Well, so much for being a tutor.~